Shoe heater



June 23, 192

W. H. BAYNARD SHOE HEATER Filed April 1 1920 6 sheets-Sheet 1 W. H. BAYNARD SHOE HEATER June 23, 1925. 1,542,814

Filed April 1 19 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 23, 1 925.

1.542.814 w. H. BAYNARD SHOE HEATER Filed April 1. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet '5 Jaye/n50? H/ZZZianw/f fiayma/Td u r zarr uelyks June 23, 1925.

w. H. BAYNARP SHOE HEATER 6 Shee'ts-Sheet 4 Filed April 1 1920 June23, 1925; 1,542,814

W. H. BAYNARD SHOE HEATER 5 w mmmawphg m zup'zzia/mjf aynaroi June 23, 1925.

' W. H. BAYNARD SHOE HEATER Filed April 1, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented June 23, 1925.

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Application filed April 1,

To all whom it'mcy concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H; BAY- NARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county or Suii'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe Heaters, of which the following .is a specification.

This invention has relation to heaters, such as employed for softening the boxtoe blanks of partially formed footwear preparatory to lasting the ends of the assem bled upper over the last. toe boxes that are customarily employed consist" of a fibrous blank treated; impregnated or coated with a stiffening compound adapted to besoitened by the application of heat, so that, after the assembled upper has been pulled over the last leaving the toe end of the upper free, the toe end of the shoe thus partially formed is heated so as to soften the stiiiening compound. in the box-toe blank, after which, by the employment of a suitable end-wiping and lasting mechanism, the toe end of the upper is drawn-tightly and lasted aboutthe' end of the last, and there held until the stiffening agent of the box-too blank has cooled and set in its thus molded form. It is desirable, not only that the bozg-toe blank should thus be heated and softened, but thatthe leather portion of the toe: end of tle up-per should be tempered by the application of moisture, so that it may be stretched and wiped about the end of the last. Consequently a. heatingapparatus for heating the toe end otapartially formed shoe,- preparatory to the ei'id-wiping and lasting operations, should be capable of supplying the desired degreeot heat for softening the box-toe blalikancl also of supplying vapor for the purpose of tempering the, leather portions of the upper.

Herctoifor it has been the practice to supply vapor'to the heater from an external source of supply, such, for example, as the boil .r which furnishes power for :the operation of. the machinery in av shoe factory; but, with modern conditions, it has been found economical to dispense with the use of steam boilers for generating power and to utilize electrical current as generated in some; central station. To meet these modern conditions, one of the objects of the present invention is toprovidea heater, in which the vapor may be supplied in situ the toe end of the last. wherevapor only is used, it must be sup plied at a relatively high temperature in 920. ,Seria1 no. 370,384.

by heating a pool of water contained within the heating apparatus by suitable electrical resistance members which can be connected to the source or" electrical supply. A further object is to combine therewith an electrical heating unit or units for the purpose of supplying the necessary dry heat. It has been found by practical experience that dry heat alone or vapor alone will not accomplish satisfactory results. If a heater be provided only with a dry heating element, the leather portions of the upper are inj ured, being dried and hardened so that they cannot be properly drawn and lasted about On the other hand,

order to soften the stiffening agent of the boxtoe' blank in-a short time, and vapor at thistemperature is injurious to leather, causing it to shrivel and burn. These difficulties, however, are obviated by using a source of dry heat. by which the stiffening material of the boX-toe blank may bequickly I softened, and supplying vapor at a rela tively low temperature to temper the leather portion' of the upper without burning. It

.is possible, by cooling the vapor when it is admitted to the shoe-receiving chamberof the heater, to have a moist atmosphere therei in, in which the shoe is subjected to a relatively low heat, even though the dry heating element itself may be at a relatively high temperature. 7 i I In the heater, which forms'the subject matterof the present inventiom! I provide,

in addition to the electrical means for generating or producingthe vapor, expansion coolingfchambers by which the temperature of the vapor is reduced-prior to its coming into contact with the partially-formed shoe, butthese chambers or conduits are sufficient temperature. so .that there is little condensation of moisture.

A further object of the invention is so to construct the heater that air may be supplied to the shoe-receiving vapor chambers therein through ports additional tothose apertures into which the shoe itself is inserted, and to provide means for preheating this air before it reaches the shoe-receiving vapor chambers, and so toform the air inlets in respect of the stack that substantially a balanced draft is secured in the heater,

thereby to prevent the admission of an excess amount of cold air through the shoereceiving apertures and also toprevent the egress of vapor outwardly through such apertures. v

On the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a shoe-heating apparatus which constitutes one embodiment of my present invention, to the details of construction of which, however, it will be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited except as may be specified in the different claims appended hereto.

On the said drawings,-

Figure 1 represents the heater in plan view.

Figure 2 represents a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 represents an end elevation and illustrates thereon the panel-board on which the switch and the fuses and the pilot light are mounted.

Figure 4 represents a section on the line i t of Figure 2.

Figure 5 represents a vertical section on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 represents a horizontal section on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 represents a section on the line 'Z7 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 represents on a larger scale a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 represents a vertical section on the line 99 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 (sheet 1) illustrates diagrammatically the arrangement of the electrical circuit, including the heating elements.

The heater, as a whole, comprises a tank for containing water and equipped with one or more submerged electrical heating elements therein, and one or more vapor units or expansion chambers connected with the tank for receiving vapor therefrom. A suitable housing is employed for containing these instrumentalities, and within the housing there is located an electrical heating element by which radiated heat is directed against that portion of the shoe which is introduced into the vapor units or chambers. The housing is provided with a separate aperture opening into each of the vapor units or chambers through which the end of the shoe may be inserted in prop r relation to the dry heating element and to be im inersed in the vapor contained in such unit or chamber. Between each shoe-receiving chamber and the water-containing tank, there are located chambers or conduits through which tne vapor is admitted to the shoe-receiving chambers to expand therein and thus be cooled before it comes into contact with the shoe. Preferably the heating element, which supplies the radiant cry heat. is located below the horizontal planes of the shoe, and at a point underneath the shoe in such position that the heat of such element may be radiated to the box-toe blank. The housing is provided with a plurality of ports or openings supplemental to those into which the shoes are inserted, for supplying air to the interior the housing, and these ports or openings lead into a chamber in which the air is preheated prior to its actual admission to the shoe-receiving chambers within the housing. A suitable stack leads from the top of the housing, through which a draft is created, sufficient to prevent the vapor from emerging from the housing through the shoe-receiving apertures, but without exhausting the vapor from the shoe-receiving chambers too rapidly and thus wasting the vapor.

Proceeding to a more detailed description of the heater, the housing is more or less of the shape of a rectangular box being preforably made of sheet metal and comprising a bottom wall 20, a rear wall 21, a front wall 22, and end walls 23, 24. The top wall or roof 25 of the housing is peaked like the roof of a house, and it is provided at the peal: with an opening 26 leading to a vertical stack 27 which may be of the desired height. The top wall or roof of the housing is constructed in any suitable way so that it is removable to afford access to the interior of the housing, and the upper portion of the front wall 22 is likewise displaceable by removing the fastenings which hold it in place. The front wall 22 is provided with a row of semi-circular apertures 28 adequate in size to receive the end of a partially formed shoe. Any suitable means may be provided for supporting the shoe in the dotted position in Figure 3. A convenient support may be provided by utilizing the following construction. A pipe or tube 29 is passed through the ends of the housing and located near the bottom and rear walls thereof, as shown in Figure 4. Instead of a tube. a solid bar might equally well be used. This member 29 is provided with T-couplings 30, to which are secured the horizontal and forwardly-extending sleeves or guideways 31 which project through the front wall of the housing in apertures provided therefor. Rods or pipes 32 telescope into the sleeves 81, and at their forward ends are provided with T-fittings 83 to receive the standards 34 which also may be formed of pipes. The standards 34 are vertically adjustable and are secured after adjustment by thumbscrews 35. Pipe sections forming a support 36 are screwed into the T-littings 37 secured to the upper ends of the uprights 34. A supporting bar is thus provided on which the shank of the shoe may rest with its toe end inserted in the housing, and this bar or support may be adjusted vertically and towards and from the front wall of the housing. The members 29 and 31, in addition to affording means for supporting theshoe support, also aiford means for supporting the vaporizing tank which is contained within the housing as will-now beexplained.

The vaporizing tank is indicated as a Whole at 39. In plan view, it is rectangular and is of such dimensions that it may rest upon thebar 29 and the sleeves 31, and be located in what maybe termed the rear portion of the housing. It is made of sheet metal, and is provided with suitable bottom, end and side walls, and with a top which is inclined rearwardly and downwardly as best shown in Figure 4. Above this vaporizing tank there is located a reservoir or supply tank indicated as a whole at 4:0, in which a supply of water iscontained. This tank 40 is enclosed within the housing so that the water may be preliminarily heated prior to its delivery to the vaporizing tank.

The tank 40 is supported upon the vaporizing tank 39 and its bottom wall is rearwardly and downwardly inclined. Between the bottom wall of the tank 40 and the top wall of the vaporizing tank 39 suitable bars or spacers 41 are inserted to aiford'a space between these two tanks for the drainage of moisture condensed on the walls of the reservoir tank. The tank 40 is open at its upper end, and water may be supplied thereto through an aperture in the roof of the housing This aperture is indicated at 42 and isnormally .closed by a swinging cover 43 pivoted at 4A and :having a handle 45. ater is supplied .to the vaporizing tank from the reservoir by meansbest shown in Figure 9. Such means comprise anout let pipe 46 leading fromthe reseuvoir and terminating in a downwardlyextending faucet 47. The vaporizing tankhasahorizontal inlet pipe 18 provided on its endwith a T-fitting 49 located in such position that the water flowing from the faucet 47 will drop into the opening 50. Immediately beyond the end ofthe T-fitting 49, there is an elbow or open gage 51, through the upwardly-extending end of which the level of the water in the vaporizing tank may be ascertained. Boththe pipe 46 and the pipe 48 project through the end wall of the housing so that faucet may be easily operated and the gage inspected. The vaporizing tank in length is somewhat shorter than the reservoir tank so that spaces are afforded between its ends and the end-walls of the housing for the necessary electrical connections with the heating elements which are located in the vaporizing tank.

As I have previously stated, the water-in the vaporizing tank is heated by electrical heating units, and I preferably employ a plurality of such units, one or more of which maybe thrown out of circuit afterthe water has been heated to a vaporizing temperature. It is quite evident that the number of these heating elements may be varied, although I have shown two as ,sui'li'cient for my pur poses. It is evident that any form of electrical heating-unit maybe employed, and I shall describe a form of such units which is suitable for the purpose. By examining Figure 8 in connection with Figure 4:, it will be observed that extending longitudinally through the vaporizing tank and projecting somewhat beyond the end walls thereof, there are two metal tubes 52, 52. These tubes may be brazed or otherwise secured in vplace soas to make a water-tight connection at their juncture with the end walls of the vaporizingtank. Brackets 53, 53, which project forwardly fromthe rear wall of the housing and which are secured thereto by suitable fastenings such as bolts 541- and nuts 55, abut against the ends of the tubes 52.

These brackets afford means for supporting the electrical heating elements, which are indicated at 57 and 571. As stated, each heating element may be made of any suitable material or in any suitable way. As illustrated, however, each element comprises resistance member 56 contained Within a metal tube 561 and surrounded by a packing 58 of mica or any other suitable material for insulating the member 56 and conducting heat to ,the enclosing tube or member 57. The ends of the tubes 561 are closed by layers of insulating packing material 59' and washers 60. The ends ofthe resistance elements 56 are threaded to receive binding nuts 61, '62, by whichthe electrical conductors may be connected thereto. Each ,tube 561 is provided with a plurality of heat-radiating and conducting rings 63 of any suitable material which are incontact with the tubes 52, through which the electrical heating elements pass concentrically. By this construction, it is quite apparent that, when the heating elements are energized, the water contained in the vaporizing tank will be quickly heated to a temperature at which it willgive off a large volume of vapor. As will be explained, I provide preferably means for controlling the passage of current through these heating elements so that eitherone or both may be energized, or both may be disconnected frointhe circuit, asmay be desired at differ ent times. The operator so adjuststhe supply valve or faucet 47 as to permit the water to drip from the reservoir into the vaporizing tank at about the same rate that the water is vaporized in the tank so as to maintain the water in the vaporizing tank approximately at a predetermined level. If the supply flow through theelbow51and thus advise the operatorthat the flow through the faucet should be diminished. If thesupply is insufficient to compensate for the water lost by evaporation, so that the level of the water of water is too great, it will over in the vaporizing tank drops below the level in the pipe &8, the emission of vapor through the elbow or gage 51 will notify the operator that the drip from the faucet 47 is insufficient in volume.

That portion of the vaporizing tank, which is above the horizontal planes of the elbow 51, constitutes a steam dome or chamber, and from this dome the vapor is conducted to what I may term the vapor units or chambers which are contained within the housing to receive the toe ends of the shoes. Referring now to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, it will be observed that, projecting forwardly from the front wall of the vaporizing tank at a slight upward inclination, there are a series of plates or walls each of which registers with the lower edge of one of the semi-circular apertures 28 in the front wall of the housing. rrbove the plate 70 is a second plate 71, Each pair of these plates or walls 70, 71 is connected by end walls 7 2, 7 2, which extend forward to the front wall of the housing, and by a reentrant front wall 73 of the shape shown in Figure 6. This front wall is curved in U-form and is reentrant, as stated, so as to provide a chamber 74 between it and the front wall 22 of the housing. The chamber formed by the top and bottom walls 70, 71, the end walls 7 2 and the front wall 73, communicates directly with the vaporizing tank, each of these chambers being indicated at 7 5. Each chamber 74:, formed by the wall 73 and the front wall 22 of the housing, is open at its bottom to receive heated air, and it communicates with the chamber 7 5 by two narrow ports or slots 76 usually covered by a baffle plate 7'? so that vapor admitted to the chamber 7 1' will be directed upwardly and not against the bottom of a shoe inserted in the chamber Tel. The chamber 74 has a dome-shaped or semi-circular top wall 78, and a rear wall 7 9 in which there is a port 80 immediately above the wall 71. The baffle plate 81 is arranged in front of the port 80 as best shown in Figure '7. From this description, it will be seen that vapor from the vaporizing tank will pass first into the chamber 75, then through the ports 76 into the shoe-receiving expansion chamber 74 where it is immediately cooled by expansion, and rising therein will finally be emitted through the port 80 into the interior of the housing. The chamber 7% servies' as a vaporcontaining unit into which the end of the shoe is projected through the aperture in the housing, and also serves as an expansion chamber for the vapor in which it is cooled, and in which it is intermingled with heated air supplied through the open lower end of said chamber 74. In order to prevent any water of condensation whcih may collect on the front wall of the housing from dropping down on a shoe inserted through an aperture 28 therein, a gutter 82 is formed around the upper edge of the aperture 28 on the inner face of the front wall of the housing so that the drip will be deflected laterally and be discharged into the bottom of the housing without coming in contact with the .shoe. This gutter is formed by bending the metal, which form the curved wall of the aperture 28, rearwardly and upwardly.

Arranged below the chambers 74, there is an electrical heating element for supplying dry heat of radiation. This element may be the same in construction as those previously described for heating the water in the vaporizing tank, and it is indicated as a whole at 85, being provided with the heat-conducting and radiating elements 86, substantially similar to those at 63. This element is supported by the brackets 53 as shown in Figure 8, and as shown in Figure 6 is located directly below Or beneath the chamber 74 so hat a shoe inserted thereinto will be subjected to the heat radiated therefrom. As shown the apertures 28 are shaped to receive the shoes, sole downward, so that the shoe soles are presented directly over the dry heat source to be directly reached by the dry heat and to deflect it against the inner faces of the stiffening elements before it has been mingled with or tempered by the vapor, while at the same time cool vapor is supplied to the interior of the housing where it mingles with the dry heated air and acts on the shoe upper.

I have stated that air is supplied to the interior of the housing and is pre-heated. For this purpose, a chamber is formed in the bottom of the housing near the front wall there of. This chamber is indicated as a whole at 88 and it is bounded by bottom wall 20 of the housing, the front wall 22, and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined wall 89, so that the chamber itself is substantially prismatic in form. The wall 89 is located in such close proximity to the dry heating ele ment that it is heated by heat radiated therefrom. The lower end of the front wall of the housing has a series of ports 90 leading to the chamber 88, and the inclined wall 89 is provided near its rear and lower edge with a plurality of ports 91 through which air may pass from the pro-heating chamber 88 to the interior of the housing. From the ports 91, the air passes upwardly through the space between the front wall of the vaporizing tank and the front wall of the housing, past the dry heating element into the shoe-receiving chambers 74;. There it is intermingled and mixed with the vapor from the vaporizing tank 39 and eventually passed out through the port 80 into the up per portion of the housing, and thence through the stack 27. Not all Of the heated air passes through the chamber T l, as a portion will pass upwardly through the spaces between. the walls 72, 72, of the respective chambers 7 5. The upper portion of the housing thus contains heated air and also such vapor as is emitted through the ports 80, and therefore the interior of the housing is at a fairly high temperature, so that the water contained in the supply tank or reser: voir 40 is pro-heated prior to its delivery to the vaporizing tank. For example, I have found that, after the heater has been in operation for a, relatively short time, say one hour, the water in thesupply tank 10 is at temperature of approximately 128 -130" It is quite evident that any usual or suit able means may be provided for controlling the circuits,- which include the three heating elements which I have herein described. Preferably I secure on one end of the heater a panel-board 100 of slate or other suitable insulating material. This panel-board may support the terminals for the fuses 101, 101, the socket for an electric pilot lamp 102, and a multiple rotary snapswitch 108 by means of which the circuits for the heating. elements are controlled. This panel-board may likewise have the terminals by'which the main conductors are secured to the conductors connected with the switch and the heating elements. The panel-board may be completely wired prior to its attachment tothe housing and all that is then necessary is to connect the several terminals properly with the terminals of theheating elements. In Figure 10, I have illustrated conventionally and diagrammatically the circuits including the heating elements. In this figure, the heati-ngresistance element 57 which is in the rear part of the vaporizer, the element 571 at the front portion of the vaporizer, and

the dry-heating resistance element 85 are all shown in their respective circuits. The rotary switch has the several contacts a, b, c, d and e, the contacts on and 0 being connected by conductors f and g with the fuses 101, 101, and the main circuit leads h andi respectively. The terminals Z), d, e are connected electrically by conductors 5 d and c with the contacts 6', d and 6, respectively. The pilot lamp is in a shunt circuit connected by conductors j and k with switch con tacts a and b. When the movable. switch members (not. shown) are moved into the first or high position, to connect contact a with contact 6, contact I) with contact 07, and contact 6 with contact 0; the heating elements 57, 571 and 85; are all connected in multiple through conductors m, a, 0 and the water in the vaporizing tank is heated by two heating units. On moving the switch members to" the second or medium position to connect contact a with contact 6, and contact 6 with contact 0, the circuit through one of the vaporizing heating. elements, namely 57 is cutout, and only ele ments 571 and 85are energized. Again, by connecting contacts at and d, and contacts I) and" c, all the resistance elements are energized but with element 5? in series with elements 571 and 85, and the elements 571 and 85 in parallel, this being accomplished by moving the switch members to the third or low position. In the fourth or out position of the switch elements, the resistance circuits are interrupted. So long as current flows through both contacts a, and 5 in series, the pilot lamp is lighted by the shunt circuit, and by its variation in brilliancy indicates the condition of the resistance circuits.

Any commercial form of double deck multipolar'rotary snap switch may be employed in which the movement of the switch eliects'the connections herein described.

In operating with 220 volts, an ammeter shows 2100 watts with the switch in the first or high position, 1400 watts in the second or medium position, and 700 watts in the third or low position. With the switch in high position, after a period of about an hour, the temperature in each shoe receiving vapor chamber, (and with shoes inserted in the apertures) is 300 F., but of course this temperature may be varied as desired;

At the bottom of the housing there is a shallow well or catch basin 110 from which leads a. drain pipe 111', which, if desired, may be suitably trapped. The wall 89 not only serves to bound the pre-heating chamber for the air, but, being arranged under the shoe-receiving vapor chambers, receives any water of condensation flowing. down from the front wall of the housing or the front wall of the vaporizing tank, and defleets it rearwardly to the well or catch'basin.

An apparatus or heater as herein described iseasily installed and connected with the lighting or power circuit of a shoe factoryi The temperature of the moist atmosphere in the shoe-receiving chambers is easily controlled, so as toprevent injury to the leather portions ofthe shoe and sufiiciently temper the toe cap, and yet heat the box-toe blank to moldable condition in a very short time.

As previously indicated herein, the invention, as hereinafter defined in the claims, may be embodied in various forms, and many of the details ofconstruction which have been herein illustrated and described may be varied without departure from the spiri and scope of the invention. ,v

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described away of making and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the modes of its use, what I claim is:

1. A shoe heater comprising a housing hav ing an aperture for the reception of a shoe,

a vaporizing tank for containing a pool of water and delivering the vapor in the housing, means for admitting air to said housin electrical heating means for heating said air, and an electrical heating element located and arranged to vaporize the water within said tank.

2. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vaporizing tank within said housing, means for vaporizing the water in said tank, and a supply tank or reservior contained in said housing for supplying water to said vaporizing tank.

3. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vaporizing tank within said housing, means for vaporizing the water in said tank, a supply tank or reservoir contained in said housing for supplying water to said vaporizing tank, and valved means for delivering water from said reservoir to said vaporizing tank.

4. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vaporizing tank within said housing, means for vaporizing the water in said tank, a supply tank or reservoir contained in said housing for supplying water to said vaporizing tank, and a valved means for delivering water from said reservoir and said vaporizing tank and having the valve located exteriorly of said housing.

5. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vaporizing tank within the lower portion of said housing, a water-supply tank located in the upper part of said housing, means for vaporizing the water contained in said vaporizing tank, an inlet pipe for said vaporizing tank, an outlet pipe from the supply tank for delivering water to said inlet pipe, a valve for controlling the passage of water through said pipes, and a water-level gage connected to said vaporizing tank.

6. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vaporizing tank contained within said housing and having an open water-level gage located outside the housing, means for supplying heat to vaporize the water contained in said tank, and means for supplying water to said tank, said means being provided with a valve located outside of said housing and arranged to deliver water to said gage.

' 7. A shoe heater comprising a housing having a plurality of apertures for the reception of shoes, a vaporizing tank within said housing for holding a body of water, means within said housing for supplying heat to vaporize said water, and a separate vapor chamber within said housing registering with each said aperture and communicating with said vaporizing tank.

8. A shoe heater comprising a housing having a aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vaporizing tank contained within said housing for holding a pool of water, means for supplying heat to vaporize said water, and a casing enclosed in said housing forming a vapor chamber registering with said aperture to receive a shoe inserted in said aperture and communicating with said tank.

9. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vaporizing tank contained within said housing for holding a pool of water, means for supplying heat to vaporize said water, a casing in said housing forming a vapor-expansion chamber registering with said aperture to receive a shoe "inserted therein, and a conduit connecting said chamber with the vaporizing chamber.

10. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vaporizing tank contained within said housing for holding apool of water, means for supplying heat to vaporize said water, a casing in said housing forming a vapor expension chamber registering with said aperture to receive a shoe inserted in said aperture and communicating with said tank, and means below said chamber for radiating heat thereto.

11. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vaporizing tank contained within said housing for holding a pool of water, means for supplying heat to vaporize said water, a casing in said housing forming a vapor chamber registering with said aperture to receive a shoe inserted in said aperture and co-mnmnicating with said tank, and means for supplying air to said chamber.

12. A shoe heater comprising a housing having a plurality of apertures for the reception of shoes, 21. vaporizing tank within said housing for containing a pool of water, an electrical heating means for heating and vaporizing the water in said tank, a separate casing in the housing registering with each shoe aperture, means for delivering vapor from said tank to said casings in the interior of said housing, electrical heating means in said housing for supplying radiated heat into the chambers formed by said casings, and means for controlling the operation of said heating elements.

13. A shoe heater comprising a housing having a plurality of apertures for the reception or" shoes, a vaporizing tank within said housing for containing a pool of water, an electrical heating element for heating and vaporizing the water in said tank, individually separate means for conducting vapor from said tank into proximity with the several apertures, and an electrical heating element in the housing located to radiate heat to shoes inserted in said apertures.

14. A shoe heater comprising a housing having a plurality of apertures to receive shoes, a separate vapoi ez'zpansion chamber in the housing registering with each said aperture to receive a shoe inserted therein, the bottom of each said chamber being open, a closed vaporizing tank associated with said housing for containing a p ool'ot water, means for heating and vaporizing the water while in said tank, means for conducting vapor from said tank to said chambers,.and-

means independent of said apertures for supplying air to the bottom of said chambers to mix with the vapor therein. I

15. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture to receive a: shoe, a vapor-expansion ,chainber in the housing re istering with said aperture to receivea shoe inserted therein, the'bottom of said chamber being open, a vaporizing tank'as sociated with said housing for Containing a pool of water, meansfor heating and vaporizing the water While in said tank, means for conductingvapo'r' from said tank to said chamber, means independent of said aperture for supplying air to the bottom of said chamber to mix with the'vapor therein, and means for heating the air prior to its delivery to said chamber. 7

16. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture to receive a shoe, a vapor-expansion chamber in the housing registering With said aperture to receive a shoe inserted therein, the bottom of said chamber being open, a vaporizing" ta'iik associated with said housing for containing a pool of Water, means for heating and vaporizing the water while in said tank, means for conducting vapor from said tank to said chamber, and a heating element located beneath the chamber to radiate heat into said chamber.

17. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture to receive a shoe, a vapor-expansion chamber in the housing registering with said aperture to receive a shoe inserted therein, the bottom of said chamber being open, a vaporizing tank associated with said housing for containing a -pool of water, means for heating and vaporizing the. Water while in said tank, means for conducting vapor from said tank to said chamber, a heating element located beneath the chamber to radiate heat into said chamber, and a port leading into said housing for supplying air to the open bottom of said chamber.

18. A shoe heater comprising a housing caving a plurality of apertures to receive shoes, vapor chambers in said housing, one registering with each aperture to receive a shoe inserted therein, a vaporizing tank within said housing in the rear of said vapor chambers for containing a pool of water, means in said housing for heating and vaporizing said pool, and conduits for conducting vapor from said tank to said chambers.

19. A shoe heater comprising a housing having a plurality of apertures to receive shoes, vapor chambers in said housing, one

registering with each aperture to receive a shoe inserted therein, a vaporizing tank within said housing in the rear of said chambers for containing a pool of water, means in said housing for heating and vaporizing said pool, conduits for conductingvapor from said tank to said chambers, and a heating element common to and beneath all said chambers for radiating heat thereto.

20. A shoe heater comprising a housing having a plurality of apertures to receive shoes, vapor chambers in said housing, one registering with each aperture to receive a shoe inserted therein, a vaporizing tank within said housing for containing a pool of water, means in said housing for heating and vaporizing said pool, conduits for conducting Vapor from said tank to said chamhers, a heating element insaid housing, and means independent of said apertures for supplying air into said housing to be heated by said heating element.

21. A shoe heater comprising a housing having a plurality of apertures to receive shoes, vapor chambers in said housing, one registering with each aperture to receive a shoe inserted therein, a vaporizing tank within said housing for containing a pool of water, means in said housing for heating and vaporizing said pool, conduits for conducting vapor from said tank to said chambers, said chambers having open bottoms, a heating element beneath said chambers, and means for supplying air to said housing to cause it to enter into the bottoms of said chambers and pass said heating element so as to be heated thereby.

22. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, means for supplying vapor to the interior of said housing, and an air chamber in the housing having ports leading into the interior of the housing and ports opening thereinto from the exterior of the. hous- 23. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, means for supplying vapor to the interior of said housing, an air chamber in the housing having ports leading into the interior of the housing and ports opening thereinto from the exterior of the. housing, and means for heating the air in said chamber previous to its delivery into the housing.

24:. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vaporizing tank within the housing for holding a pool of water, means for heating and vaporizing the water in said, tank, a heating element within the housing for rat iating dry heat, and an air chamber within the housing for pre-heatin air prior to its delivery into the housing -for admixture with the vapor.

A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, a vapor chamber in the housing registering with said aperture so as to receive a shoe inserted in said aperture and having an open bottom, a closed vaporizing tank associated with said housing for containing a pool 01 water and communicating with said chamber for the delivery of vapor thereto, means for heating and vaporizing the water in said tank, an air heating chamber in said housing located below the vapor chamber, and a heating element located to radiate heat against a wall of said air chamber and also into said vapor chamber.

26. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the insertion of a shoe, a vapor chamber in the housing registering with said aperture to receive a shoe inserted therein, a vaporizing tank in the housing in the rear of said chamber and communicating therewith, a reservoir or supply tank in the housing located above said vaporizing tank, means for conducting water from the reservoir to the vaporizing tank, means for heating and evaporating the water contained in said vaporizing tank, and a dry-heating element located beneath the vapor chamber.

27. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the insertion of a shoe, a vapor chamber in the housing registering with said aperture to receive a shoe inserted therein, said chamber having an open bottom, a closed top and an outlet port, and a heating element arranged below the bottom of said chamber to radiate heat thei'einto, said housing having an opening to admit air into the housing to be heated by said heating element prior to its passage into said chamber through the bottom thereof.

28. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture for the insertion of a shoe, a vapor chamber in the housing registering with said aperture to receive a shoe inserted therein, said chamber having an open bottom and a closed top with an outlet leading therefrom. into the interior of the housing, a vapor container in said housing, and a chamber intermediate said container and said vapor chamber and flanking said vapor chamber, said intermediate chamber communieatin g with the vapor container and having ports opening into said vapor chamber.

29. In a shoe heater, the combination with a housing having an aperture for the reception of a shoe, of a water tank in the housing for containing a pool of water, for supplying water to said tank, and an electrical heating element submerged in the water contained in said tank to heat and vaporize the water.

30. A shoe heater comprising a housing having an aperture in its front wall, means for supplying said housing with vapor, sleeves extending forwardly from said: housing below the horizontal planes of said apertu' re, members telescoping into said sleeves, uprights vertically adjustable in the for ward ends of said members, and a hori zontal bar supported by said uprights, whereby the body portion of a shoe may rest on said cross bar with the end of the shoe inserted in said aperture.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

WILLIAM H. BAYNARD. 

